Water Well Drilling in the Portland, Oregon Area
Need a new well, a pump that works again or a water test for a home sale? Call or send the short form, and a local well company calls back, usually the same business day.
Around Oregon City, Hillsboro, Sandy and nearby
Calls are recorded for quality assurance.
How it works
- Call or send the formIt takes about a minute. Calls are recorded for quality assurance.
- Say what you needYour name, your number and the job. That's all it takes.
- A Portland-area well company calls you backUsually the same business day, to ask a few questions and set a time to look.
- You get a price and decideThe price comes before any work starts. No pressure, and nothing to pay to call.
Start with what your well needs
Each page lays out the steps, the Oregon rules that apply and the questions to ask.
A new well
Siting, depth, casing, the seal and the well report, and what to settle before the drill rig arrives.
Pump repair and replacement
No water, low pressure, a pump that runs constantly or sputters: what each one usually points to.
Well water testing
Which tests Oregon health officials recommend for a household well, and how often to run them.
Selling or buying a home
Oregon requires a water test when a home with a domestic well is sold. Here is who does what.
Oregon rules that shape every well
The state sets these standards for household wells, whoever drills them. Knowing them makes the first call easier.
A licensed constructor
Building a well for someone else in Oregon takes a water well constructor's license from the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD). A landowner can drill their own only with a permit and a bond.
The seal
A well must be sealed to at least 18 feet, or 5 feet into a solid layer of rock or clay, whichever is deeper. The seal keeps surface water out.
Distance from septic
State rules keep a new well at least 50 feet from a septic tank and 100 feet from a drain field, and 5 feet from the house, a deck or other permanent structure.
The well report
The constructor files a well report with OWRD within 30 days of finishing. It records the depth, casing, seal and test results, and you get a copy.
The well ID label
Wells drilled or altered after 1996 carry a metal well ID label on the casing. It links the well to its record for the life of the well.
Household use
A domestic well can supply up to 15,000 gallons a day without a water right, but some areas limit new uses, so check with OWRD before you plan.
How a new well usually goes
Most residential wells follow the same order of work. Here is what to expect.
- Look at the property. The driller checks where the septic system, buildings and neighboring wells sit, and where the rig can reach.
- Check nearby wells. OWRD keeps an online database of well reports, so the driller can see how deep wells nearby went and how much water they found.
- Notify and dig safely. A start card goes to OWRD before work begins, and 811 is called two business days before any digging.
- Drill, case and seal. The hole is drilled, casing goes in to hold it open, and the seal is placed to keep surface water out.
- Test the flow. A flow test measures how much water the well gives and how fast the level recovers.
- Disinfect, report and label. The well is disinfected, the well report is filed with OWRD and the well ID label goes on the casing.
Questions to ask before you hire a driller
The state's well owner handbook suggests these questions. Ask each driller the same ones and compare the answers side by side.
- Do you hold a current Oregon water well constructor's license and bond?
- Have you drilled wells near this address, and are there known water quality issues here?
- What is the expected depth, and what is the cost per foot?
- What casing and seal will you use?
- How long is the flow test, and will you give me the drawdown and recovery numbers?
- Is the pump part of the job, or is that a separate contractor?
- What happens, and what does it cost, if the hole is dry and has to be abandoned?
- Will everything be in a written agreement?
Common questions
How deep will my well be?
That depends on the ground under your property. Wells drilled nearby are the best guide, and the driller can look those up in the OWRD well report database before quoting.
Do I need a water right for a household well?
Usually not. Domestic use up to 15,000 gallons a day is exempt from a water right permit, along with watering a lawn or garden of up to half an acre. Some areas restrict new wells, so confirm with OWRD at 503-986-0900 first.
My well has no water or low pressure. Who do I call?
Start with a pump service call. The pump repair page explains what the symptoms usually mean.
How often should I test my well water?
Each year for nitrates and coliform bacteria, and at least once for arsenic. The testing page has the details.
I'm selling a house with a well. What do I need?
A lab test for arsenic, nitrate and total coliform bacteria once you accept an offer. See selling a home with a well.
Can I drill my own well?
Oregon allows it only with a landowner permit, a fee and a bond from OWRD, and the state recommends hiring a licensed constructor instead.
What does the call cost me?
Nothing. This site charges you nothing. The company that calls back prices the work after hearing about your property.
Ready to talk about your well?
Call or send the form. A local well company calls back, usually the same business day, asks about your property and your water, and prices the work.
Calls are recorded for quality assurance.